The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-19
FROM WASHINGTON.
Strange Things to be Seen in the
Patent Office.
More Protection Asked for Aroostook
Iumbermen.
The House Committee oppose the
$500, 900 Mail Subsidy.
Another Lot of Pensions Granted
Maine Claimants.

Especial to the PRESS.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. IS.
The patent Office at Washington Is place
where more ''crankiness' can be found in
one week than in almost any other place in
the country in six months. Every man who
| makes anything new must Of course have It
presented and the strange things which are
brought there would fill good sized volume
| in relating. One recent cont-iSance which
was brought there for patent was an i'm
| provement upon that much abused article
| the chestnut bell" 1t was a contrivanee
| by which, when the bell was rung tiny rat
ran across the front Of the person wearing 1t
and stopped in plain sight Of the victim. To
make 1t more prominent the word rats"
was printed upon the side Of the animal.
The inventor desired patent for the whole
eontrivanee including the word rats" The
commissioner, however, thought that the
word was too common property to be patent
ed, but allowed the patent for the rest Of the
contriyance. Another inventor, or rather
his attorney, this week created a decided
sensation in the commissioners Office. A
patent was wanted for torpedo which was
warranted to explode as soon as it touched
water. The patent attorney brought to the
office Of the commissioner a pasteboard mod
Ell Of the bomb, and in order to test it, had
tub Of water brought in, and threw the bomb
into 1t. The result fully justified the claims
OF the inventor. No sooner had the bomb
touched the water than it exploded with con-
siderable force, sending the water in all di-
rections and thoroughly drenching the con-
tents of the room. The occupants Of the
room sought shelter in short order, and in a
moment the room was cleared. The test
was considered perfectly satisfactory and
the patent was ordered to be issued.
Entitled to a Pension.
The House committee on pensions have
ordered favorable report upon the claim Of
Abbie r. Brown, widow Of John A. Brown,
late a sergeant Of the Fifth Battery, Maine
Light Artillery. He died July 10th, 1880,
leaving pending claim for pension, based
on rheumatism. His death was caused by
pneumonia, and the widows claim was re-
jected on the ground that the disease Of
which he died was not incident to his ser
vice. The sworn statement of Abner o.
Shaw, M. d., Of Portland, states that while
the accident Of taking cold hastened the
event Of his death by a short time, yet death
was certain from malarial poisoning con-
tracted during the service. The committee
think that in cases involving similar princi-
pies it has been the almost invariabfe rule
of Congress to grant relief to the wieow, and
therefore recommend the passage of the bill.
Protection Asked for Maine Lumber
men.
Congressman Milliken today called at the
treasury department to ask that steps be
taken to prevent New Brunswick lumber
men from smuggling lumber cut on the st.
Johns and ST. Croix rivers into Maine free
of duty. The law allows logs cut on the
American side Of these rivers to be Aoated
down, prepared and sold in Maine without
duty. For some years past New Brunswick
lumbermen have been taking advantage Of
this to bring in lumber cut on their side Of
these rivers. and sell it on our side Of the
line as American lumber, without paying
any duty. The practice has increased to
such proportion that it is claimed TO injure
the business Of American lnmbermen in that
part Of the State, and Mr.. Milliken asked
that the treasury department send officers
down there to prevent the practice in the fu-
ture.
The s5oo,ooo Mall Subsidy.
The House committee on postofices and
post roads today voted to nOn-concur in the
Senate 100000 mail subsidy amend
ment to the postoffice appropriation bill. 1t
viii come up in the House early next week,
and one hour is to be allow red to each side for
debate. There is no hope that the decision
of the House will be different from that Of
last year, though it is thought that larger
vote may be cast in its favor than last year.
The Good News for Maine.
The Senate today agreed. to all the amend
ments of the commerce committee, to the
river and harbor bill, which affect Maine
rivers and harbors.
Personal.
Mr.. E. M. Goodall Of Sanford is here.
For Liberty's Sake.
At a meeting Of the House appropriation
committee the conferees on the sundry civil
bill on the part of the House agreed to re-
port an item Of S19,500 for lighting under
the direction of the lighthouse beard, the
Statute Of Liberty on Bedloe's island. Mr..
Adams Of New York, who is a member Of
the committee. urged the Importance Of Con-
suitable plant with which to illuminate the
statue. The amount it is believed will ena-
BILE the engineers to establish the necessary
apparatus and pay the expense until Con-
gress again meets, when some definite idea
will be had Of the amount annually required
to sustain the plant
The McAdoo Bill.
The House committee on military affairs
to-day resumed consideration of the McAdoo
bill. Lieutenant General Sheridan was pres
ent by invitation. He said he had hereto
fore refrained from expressing any expert
opinion Of the coast defence, but in his view
what the country needs at present is guns,
andlwhen these have been procured IL will
be proper to take up the question of for
tihcation.
No More Free Passes.
A series of interviews has been o btained,
from which it appears that the members Of
the Inter-Commerce conference committee
are substantially agreed that the new law
forbids the issuance of passes to any persons.
Only TwosWeeks More.
The 49th Congress expires by limitation
two weeks from to-pay, and as yet but one
appropriation bill has become law.